Philip Kim, better known as Phil Wizard, is a breaker from Vancouver. Breaking is a new event this year and Kim — a past World Breaking Champion — is the favourite to win gold.
What is something you wish more people understood about your sport?
“That breaking isn’t just about who’s doing the most physically impressive moves. It has a lot of complexities when it comes to the nature of how difficult it is creatively as well, and that those movements are just as impressive and difficult as the physical”
Leading up to the Games, what does your training regimen look like?
“Pretty similar to how it’s always looked. My motto is “stay ready so I don’t have to get ready.” I love training more than anything, so it’s consistently in the gym with my PT, and breaking 2-4 hours a day 5-6 days a week.
You’ve said in previous interviews you didn’t really watch the Olympics growing up, which is the opposite experience of many athletes who will be heading to Paris. What has it been like processing that you’re one of the first Olympians for your sport?
It’s been a surreal experience over the last year. The changes in breaking, the excitement leading into Paris, all of it has been an eye-opening experience. We’re making history as the days go by, and when I actually take a pause in my life and think about it I’m so grateful and excited to be a part of it all.
Do you think the inclusion in the Olympics will help grow breaking as a sport?I definitely think it will! And that’s the hope. I hope more people see it and fall in love with it, I hope more brands see value and potential in it and want to grow with it. And I hope kids see it and fall in love with it, the way I did when I first saw it.
What have you learned about the business side of being an Olympic athlete?It’s been an incredible last year for me. I’m grateful for all the partners that have chosen to believe in me along the way. It’s actually been fun for me navigating that side as it’s something I’ve always been interested in. It definitely comes with challenges, balancing all of it while maintaining physical and mental readiness, but it helps to have a great manager haha.
It’s also remembering little things like breaking terminology that’s not common terms for people outside of the culture. But there’s been great willingness and desire to learn and understand from my partners which has been great.
What is your advice for those hoping to become the best at what they do?
Honestly as simple and cheesy as it sounds you have to love it. Not the idea of something, or the thought of an end goal. But the actual act of it. The process. My success comes from the passion I have for breaking. Even without all of this, I’d be in the studio each day working on my craft, honing it. Events, partners, the buzz is all fantastic, but my love is still just showing up and breaking.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.